Page 48 - Sports Energy News, Cornwall, Issue No 121

48 Issue #121 February 2023 www.sportsenergynews.com

In Reel Time

One Night To Remember

By Nikolai Adams the time. . . on the final day of shooting,
exclaiming to a friend, “I just finished
t Happened One Night. . . what, making the worst picture I’ve ever
Iyou must be wondering? Well, made”. Even Gable, who reportedly
on February 27th, 1935, at the 7th got along much better with Capra, was
Academy Awards, the aforementioned rather dower on his first day – “Let’s
film became the first ever to win the get this over with”. . . and was drunk,
so-called rude, and angry upon his first meeting
with the director (after all, it wasn’t
‘Big Five’ – Best Picture, Best exciting to be on ‘Poverty Row’).
Director (Frank Capra – his first of
three wins for this category in the Neither star truly grasped Capra’s
decade), Best Actor (Clark Gable), vision and spirit, and funnily enough,
Best Actress (Claudette Colbert), neither did Columbia. Lacking just
and Best Screenplay – in this case, as much of an understanding of what
Adapted (Robert Riskin – based on the they had, it did not get the fanfare Photo Submitted
short story “Night Bus”). . . a rare feat most films received. . . and did not for building realistic and heartwarming of the film finding Warne in complete
that has only been replicated twice get the advertising push you would characters. Ellen Andrews (Colbert) control. Then things switch, and Ellen
more (with 1975’s One Flew Over the expect. Falling away from the main is a wealthy heiress. . . a constantly starts to gain the upper hand. This
Cuckoo’s Nest and 1991’s The Silence theatres in a very short time, it was controlled daughter that, in her one format, combined with the fact that she
of the Lambs). then released into the secondary rebellious moment, escaped the starts to fall for him. . . and, uneducated
theatres where audiences found it.
Often referred to as the first great Despite getting nearly no aid, it security team set in place by her father in such things, throws herself at
romantic comedy as well as the first became a huge success, Columbia’s (Walter Connolly), happening to fall him (the wrong move), makes for a
screwball comedy, all of this success highest grossing picture for some time into the lap of pilot and adventurer fascinating vision of both characters
and glory was not guaranteed. Capra, (and lifting it out of ‘Poverty Row’), King Westley (Jameson Thomas) – at their strongest, and at their most
a director at Columbia Studios. . . and the largest moneymaker of the the pair eloping. Now back under the vulnerable – you will never find Gable
a name that, at the time, equated to year for any studio. Then, it swept the thumb of her father, she once again less confident and in control (yet still
‘Poverty Row’, was not known as major categories at the Oscars – both escapes (this time from his boat), her somehow strong) nor Colbert’s cool,
a major studio. In fact, it was where Gable, and more importantly Colbert, mission: to dodge the countless people aristocratic manner fade away into a
the major studios sent their actors as thanked Capra (Colbert in a sly way her father has hired as she makes her more vulnerable human being (both
punishment, or as a way to cut costs acknowledging that she was wrong) – way to her man. . . journeying from playing against type like never before
when they weren’t working. . . it is in fact, she was so sure she was going Florida to New York. or after). Capra, tinkering with gender
still disputed as to which brought to lose, she didn’t attend (instead, Sneaking onto a bus, her life will norms, found the perfect pair to play
Gable to the film (some reports claim leaving for another trip). Studio head forever be changed when journalist the two leads. With an infectious
that it was for refusing to do a specific Harry Cohn sent someone to fetch Peter Warne (Gable) sits next to her. chemistry, Gable and Colbert are just
film, others due to the fact that he’d her, and she rushed to the ceremony – A shoot first and ask questions later as comfortable hurling insults as they
had an affair with star Joan Crawford), accepting the Oscar in a travelling suit guy (in regards to the way he talks) are laughing together. . . and they may
though today, historians suggest it (one of the cutest pictures – as it was who is on the outs with his boss, he just be best at riffing off of each other
was simply a way for the studio to presented to her by Shirley Temple), promptly realizes what is sitting right (so that she is not found). Aided by
save some money. As for Colbert then returning back to the train – which next to him – the story of a lifetime. the way Riskin and Capra build their
(whose very first film was with Capra scenes (though he is not credited,
was held for her (the perks of being Quickly getting the upper hand on the
– a disaster), he offered to double her
a star who has just won an Academy spoiled young woman, he tinkers and there is no doubt Capra co-wrote
salary (a whopping fifty thousand) and
Award). prods, teasing her for her lack of street this screenplay), they know how to
have the film shot in just four weeks, smarts and haughty attitude. build a gag. Most famously, there is
so that she could still go on her well- So, what was it that, despite all the hitchhiking scene. After tooting
planned vacation. Over the twenty odds, ensnared audiences? A loveable A tightrope walk that is so very his own horn, Warne tries to flag down
eight days, she complained nearly all mixture of comedy, drama and rarely pulled off, Capra takes the two
romance, Capra always had the knack on a fascinating journey, the first third Continued on page 49